Tinted Window Law Unenforceable

Darkly tinted auto glass, like jaywalking, is illegal but widespread in Florida.

Every so often, somebody does gets a ticket for jaywalking. When it comes to tinted windows, police are hard-pressed to find a single instance of a driver being cited.

``I`ve never heard of anybody getting ticketed,`` said Delray Beach Police Sgt. Thomas Stufano. ``Until they make up their mind on what the law is, we won`t write out tickets.``

``I`m sure there`s been some, but I can`t recall any being written,`` laments Capt. Billy O`Bryan of the Florida Highway Patrol`s Troop K in northern Palm Beach County. ``There`s no way of enforcing the law.``

Car windows tinted to block more than 65 percent of the sun`s rays have been against the law in Florida since June 20, 1984. The law was passed so police officers could see into cars they stop for traffic checks, said Marie Mattox, a spokesman for the House Criminal Justice Committee in Tallahassee.

But from the start, the law has been virtually unenforceable. For one thing, anyone who had tinted car windows before the law took effect is exempt.

``The people trying to enforce the law have a big problem proving (tinted glass) was installed after June 20,`` said Mattox.

Suzanne Printy, an attorney for the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, admits the grandfather clause makes enforcement difficult. But she said that problem will be eased as older model cars disappear from the roads.